Menu

Breathe.. Just Breathe.

You’re standing on the edge of a cliff, in the middle of a desert, or on the shore of an ocean being buffeted by the waves. You are at the threshold of what you feel you can bear. Your breath is taken away and, despite everything in you trying, you cannot seem to cry out to God. “Help me!” You’re lost, and alone, and confused..

We’ve all experienced it. We’ve all been through it! In those times when, were it not for those who love us being there to help us through and never giving up on us, we weren’t sure that we would even make it through.

A pressure builds in your chest; whether ache or sadness, you do not know. What you do know is that you cannot survive this alone. You need someone to be there. You need comfort. You need peace.

In times like these we tend to let ourselves get carried away in the confusion and, not knowing what to do, we take steps that have a profound impact on our lives; sometimes even a negative one. It is in these very moments that holding on to God is the most important thing that we can do! It is in these moments that we pull closer to those that love us and trust that, even though it may be confusing and we may not know what to do next, God IS still there.

I love the scripture about the prodigal son because it speaks so clearly to us about God’s love! We may squander away what He has given us, and waste our inheritance, but He never gives up! Even when we turn away from Him, He is still there waiting and watching; never giving up on seeing us walk back through that field coming home to Him.

It’s a beautiful thing really! My God waits for me! He stares off into the distance, looking for me to come home! When I was lost in sin, worry, confusion, fear, doubt, strife, envy, lust, greed, malice, and in all of the things that are contrary to Him; when I was in that hypothetical pig sty of life, He was waiting patiently to have me!

I hope that I’m not losing you, because this is SO important to understand! Our God didn’t only come to save us, He waits for us! Eagerly awaiting the day that we turn around and walk to Him! Not only so, when we do, He welcomes us with open arms!

This is not an imaginary love, it is real; more real than anything else, in fact! It is hope, and mercy! It is peace to those who ache, and grace to those who feel as though they do not deserve it! He is many things, but above all things He is love!

We read the words in the book, but we either don’t really let them sink in or we simply cannot understand for all of our reading. God is love! This is His purpose for us, that we live in love! Not just love, but His love! That we should be an image of His love at all times, to all people; including to ourselves!

See, we can wallow in the hypothetical pig sty and we can get covered in filth but love will always welcome us back! We only have to do our best and make the effort!

He said this of love, that “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud, or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!” (1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8)

Love is patient; it never stops waiting, no matter how bad things may get it never loses forbearance! It does not demand its own way; it has no concept of thinking only of itself, but of others and of God, never leading us into a position that is selfish and prideful. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance! No matter what we face, it never loses faith and never doubts God, it never doubts itself, it simply doesn’t doubt and it doesn’t fear! It will not mislead us, or forsake us!

Stop, and look to God! It may seem tough at times, but all you have to do is look and you will find Him! Breathe! Just, breathe! You are loved, even though you may not see it or feel it; you will always be loved! You are more valuable than you can comprehend, so valuable to God in fact that He sacrificed Himself!